CSKA Moscow take 2-0 lead in VTB final series

CSKA Moscow took another giant step towards retaining the VTB United League on Friday with a 94-81 win over Khimki Moscow Region. The result meant that CSKA took a 2-0 lead in the best of five championship series and now needs just one more win to lift the title. Game 3 will be held in Khimki on Monday, so there is still a chance of the series continuing, but on this evidence CSKA looks in cruise control.

The Euroleague giant is chasing a fifth title, while Khimki is looking to repeat its championship winning run from 2011, and the club remains the only one to break CSKA’s monopoly over the VTB United League. In Game 2, the Moscow giant pushed past Khimki in style, shooting 26 of 33 (78.8%) from the free throw line. The hosts also looked proficient from distance, draining 12 shots from beyond the arc during the game.

CSKA Moscow looked in control throughout and asserted its dominance in the first quarter with a blazing start to the game, the teams traded but the home team eventually paced to a 29-24 lead. In the second frame both teams cooled through the nets, although Khimki slipped further and an 18-13 run through the stanza gave the Moscow contingent a 47-37 lead through halftime. With a double digit lead, CSKA didn’t look back and consolidated through the third as the teams locked 24-24 before the hosts won the fourth act 23-20 to seal an impressive victory.

Milos Teodosic led the way for CSKA Moscow with 18 points and 6 assists, while Sasha Kaun managed 17 points, Anthony Vorontsevich nailed 13 points and 7 rebounds. Nando De Colo logged 12 points and 6 boards in the win, followed by Andrei Kirilenko with 11 points and 8 rebounds.

Khimki struggled to match CSKA’s scoring, but Paul Davis scored 14 points, Petteri Koponen 13 points, while Sergey Monya and Victor Claver claimed 10 points each.